The Clawson Planning Commission on Tuesday discussed a zoning amendment that would confine short-term rentals to six districts around the downtown and set a cap of 18 licenses citywide, including the 13 already licensed, but took no final vote.

The proposal would remove short-term rentals from most single-family residential districts and restrict them to a set of downtown and adjacent commercial/residential zones. Planning staff member Nick Khan said the zoning language would be separated from a later “general ordinance” that would address licensing rules, occupancy and enforcement. “As you're all aware, we had the joint workshop, last week,” Khan said while summarizing the outcome and next steps.

The discussion matters because it aims to balance neighborhood concerns about noise, trash and parking with property owners' interest in operating short-term rental units, commissioners said. The commission was considering a cap that would allow five additional licenses beyond the 13 already active, bringing the total to 18.

During public comment, a resident who identified herself as Linda said an Airbnb at 1223 Langley Boulevard has caused repeated problems for neighbors, including trash, snow and parking issues. “I think there's more problems in having a motel in a residential area than we're thinking about right now,” she told the commission, adding that code enforcement and police complaints were a concern and that the property had not had a final inspection after permit work.

Commissioners and staff clarified procedure: the planning commission handles only zoning (where rentals may be allowed); the city council will handle the general ordinance that sets licensing fees, enforcement mechanisms and occupancy limits. Commissioners discussed the practical effect of the state's public-notice timing: a public-hearing notice requires a minimum 15 days, and depending on newspaper posting schedules the effective lead time is often closer to 18–21 days.

Commissioners pressed staff for a draft ordinance language at the July 8 meeting so the commission could review and, if ready, approve a version that would then be posted for public hearing on the required schedule. Khan said the goal was to have draft language for the July 8 meeting but that he had not yet received legal review from the city attorney (Joe Tangari) and that Tangari was out of town.

A motion was made to authorize staff to set a public hearing date once ordinance language is finalized. After an extended discussion about whether that delegation would actually accelerate the timeline or improperly cede the commission’s scheduling authority, the maker of the motion withdrew it and no public hearing date was set. The commission left the matter as discussion only and directed staff to bring draft ordinance language back for review.

Staff also reported that building code staff will inspect 1223 Langley to review permit work and that the police department's complaint records were still being collected. Khan said the zoning amendment draft would identify six districts where short-term rentals would be permitted, and would treat existing licensed short-term rentals as nonconforming but counted within the proposed cap.

Commissioners noted the matter has been under discussion for about two years and urged timely legal review so the commission could act on the July 8 agenda. No formal zoning amendment, ordinance language or enforcement changes were adopted at the meeting.

What happens next: staff aims to present draft zoning amendment language at the July 8 planning commission meeting; if the commission approves language then, the clock for public-notice posting begins and a public hearing would be scheduled consistent with state and local notice requirements.